Projects are a very large part of what WPI is about. It is not just about your “capstone” experience which is standard in ABET accredited programs today, including VT. Project discussion enters every course at WPI as this is a central part of the current teaching system. It requires a different focus from traditional classroom lectures. See what is different about the programs, how they may work for you and of course if they are realistically affordable. IQPs are unique to WPI and most are now done off campus.
Both Universities have very solid placement records. Hopefully the economy will have recovered by 2024. The only school I ever heard of which guaranteed job placement was a small LA college in Maine which used it as a marketing tool as it was trying to survive. If you did not find employment after graduation, they paid some money back. Neither VT nor WPI do this.
How about those football games?